Erasing a tribute to Latino Heroes

Column by Cindy Rodgriguez

Paint smears the dignity of Latino heroes
By Cindy Rodríguez
Denver Post Staff Columnist

The face of Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzáles is gone. Brush strokes of blue paint were smeared over his image, erasing a memorial to the father of the Chicano Civil Rights movement.

Along with Gonzáles, other historical figures - Emiliano Zapata, Father Miguel Hidalgo, Pancho Villa, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera - vanished from a wall at the Longmont Youth Center.

The 4-month-old mural, painted by a couple of teenagers with the help of two former youth center staffers, has been replaced with a meaningless bright-blue wall.

It depicts nothing. It signifies nothing. Apparently, that's the way some Longmont officials like it. complete article